Experience the Thrill of a 7-Minute Ring Lap on this Top Crossover Ride!
Is it true that all electric cars are boring? Hyundai disagrees, stating that their Ioniq 5 N is actually quite enjoyable, even though it is a heavy vehicle that no longer uses a traditional gasoline engine. Dubbed as a “corner rascal,” this first electric N model showcased its capabilities during a hot lap at the Nürburgring with Sport Auto’s test driver Christian Gebhardt at the helm.
In a recent race, he successfully completed one circuit around the notorious Green Hell in just 7 minutes and 45.59 seconds, coming in only 2.6 seconds behind the BMW M2 CS (F87 generation) driven by the same racer. It was Christian Gebhardt who had previously crossed the finish line in 2020, steering the rear-wheel-drive Bavarian sports car with a lap time of 7 minutes and 42.99 seconds on the Nordschleife track.
It is noteworthy to mention that the popular electric vehicle (EV) had Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires installed, whereas the previous-generation M2 was equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. It can be argued by car enthusiasts that the BMW remains the top choice for drivers, yet it cannot be denied that the Ioniq 5 N is a sincere attempt at making electric cars exhilarating to drive and impressively fast. In fact, it reached impressive speeds of up to 163 mph (262 km/h) on straight roads.
The mere comparison between a larger crossover and a purebred sports coupe is an impressive accomplishment in its own right. However, the difference between the Ioniq 5 N and the brand-new M2 is even more remarkable. The G87-generation iteration, driven by BMW M development engineer Jörg Weidinger, conquered the demanding track in a remarkable time of 7 minutes and 38.71 seconds last year. Moving forward to 2025, a probable release of the M2 CS is expected to slash off several seconds from its Nürburgring lap record.
Could there be a potential addition to the Ioniq 5 family? It seems that Hyundai might have an Ioniq 6 N in the works, which is said to be a sedan version with increased performance. The RN22e concept was likely a glimpse into what the future production model could be like. If this is the case, this electric sedan will likely have a more intense flavor than its crossover counterpart, thanks to its lower stance and improved handling.
BMW is currently in the process of developing a high-performance electric vehicle, similar to the M3 sedan, which is set to launch in the second half of the decade. This will be accompanied by a counterpart resembling the X3.
Source: Sport Auto / YouTube
